DRC presidential election to hold in April 2018

Various stakeholders have agreed to postpone the presidential election in the DRC to April 2018.

The outcome of the dialogue has been criticised by the opposition parties which did not get involved in the process.

Opposition members critical of the ongoing dialogue had pointed out their lack of interest in talks while calling for peaceful protests on Wednesday to express their dissatisfaction.

The agreement validated during a plenary meeting in Kinshasa will extend Joseph Kabila’s stay in power in violation of the country’s constitution.

The agreement has also proposed the formation of a new government .

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been going through political crisis since the contested re-election of Joseph Kabila in 2011

The absence of some key opposition leaders and the Catholic church in the dialogue casts doubt on the effectiveness of the agreement.